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6A – Daily News – Friday, December 24, 2010 Opinion Atime for parents to appreciate their children D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 8 5 Greg Stevens, Publisher gstevens@redbluffdailynews.com Chip Thompson, Editor editor@redbluffdailynews.com Editorial policy The Daily News opinion is expressed in the editorial. The opinions expressed in columns, letters and cartoons are those of the authors and artists. Letter policy The Daily News welcomes let- ters from its readers on timely topics of public interest. All let- ters must be signed and pro- vide the writer’s home street address and home phone num- ber. Anonymous letters, open letters to others, pen names and petition-style letters will not be allowed. Letters should be typed and cannot exceed two double-spaced pages or 500 words. When several letters address the same issue, a cross section of those submit- ted will be considered for publi- cation. Letters will be edited. Letters are published at the discretion of the editor. Mission Statement We believe that a strong com- munity newspaper is essential to a strong community, creating citizens who are better informed and more involved. The Daily News will be the indispensible guide to life and living in Tehama County. We will be the premier provider of local news, information and advertising through our daily newspaper, online edition and other print and Internet vehi- cles. The Daily News will reflect and support the unique identities of Tehama County and its cities; record the history of its com- munities and their people and make a positive difference in the quality of life for the resi- dents and businesses of Tehama County. How to reach us Main office: 527-2151 Classified: 527-2151 Circulation: 527-2151 News tips: 527-2153 Sports: 527-2153 Obituaries: 527-2151 Photo: 527-2153 On the Web www.redbluffdailynews.com Fax Newsroom: 527-9251 Classified: 527-5774 Retail Adv.: 527-5774 Legal Adv.: 527-5774 Business Office: 527-3719 Address 545 Diamond Ave. Red Bluff, CA 96080, or P.O. Box 220 Red Bluff, CA 96080 When I was young, I loved music from the realists. Jim Croce wrote, "Well, there never seems to be enough time to do the things you want to do once you find them. I’ve looked around enough to know that you’re the one I want to go through time with." Once my kids were born, this was easy. Within my distant memory, nothing marks the passing of time more than the holidays. The subject of time has been a source of frustration through- out my life. As a child growing up in the 1960s, the Cold War with Russia and the Vietnam War in Asia molded a great sense of cynicism within my soul. I never thought I’d live to be 40. Who would? I grew up to civil defense drills and the fear that my two older brothers would be drafted. Who needed time? Why live when life seemed so futile? The one thing that stands out in my memory – of making life worth living – was family and friends. The holidays were always a wonderful time during my younger days. Mom and Dad always made sure we would have memories, even in the midst of strife around the world. Funny, but I feel the same way now toward my own kids. My wife kidded me a few weeks ago about my book. She said, "You’re always writing about your childhood and what you once did. You never write about what we’re doing now." Her comment caught me off guard and I didn’t like it. How- ever, in a way, I knew she was right. For most of my life, I spent a good deal of time looking back. Living in the present wasn’t all that pleasant. Thankfully, in these days, the present for me is downright wonderful. I was reminded of this recently during Thanksgiving, one of my favorite holidays of the year. As I sat in our back yard admiring the deep blue sky, I realized how lucky I was to have a wonderful wife and two amazing young kids. In addition, I understood just how special my job was, and I felt lucky to be teach- ing right here in Red Bluff. So many former students ask me, "Are you still teaching at Red Bluff High?" I’m always dumb- founded by this ques- tion. "No, I’m selling used cars on Main Street." "Really," they say. "No. I’m still teaching; what else would I be doing?" Every year, the hol- idays remind me how fortunate I am to be living out my destiny here. It may not make sense to some, but I believe God chose me to be here. Why else would a Southern California boy stick around? There was a time when I was younger that I wanted time to speed up. In my early twenties, I wanted to be forty. Now that I’m almost fifty, I quite honest- ly want to be – that’s right, fifty. When I look at my kids, Ethan and Mia, nearly four years ago, I cannot believe how lit- tle they were. Now, in the year 2010, it amazes me how big they’ve become. I’m lucky. I’m lucky. I’m lucky. What else can I say? My holiday wish is Pat Gleason Simply Put that every parent would appreciate their kids, no matter what the circumstance. Hug them, love them, and bless them with all your might. Who else would you rather trav- el through time with? Jim Croce was right. ——— Pat Gleason grew up in Los Angeles and has taught English at Red Bluff High School since 1990. He can be reached at phgleaso@rbuhsd.k12.ca.us. Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Jim Nielsen (R) State Capitol Bldg., Room 6031 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 319-2002; Fax (916) 319-2102 STATE SENATOR — Doug LaMalfa (R) State Capitol Bldg., Room 3063 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 651-4004; Fax (916) 445-7750 GOVERNOR — Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 445-2841; Fax (916) 558-3160; E-mail: gover- nor@governor.ca.gov. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE — Wally Herger (R), 2635 Forest Ave. Ste. 100, Chico, CA 95928; 893-8363. U.S.SENATORS — Dianne Feinstein (D), One Post Street, Suite 2450, San Francisco, CA 94104; (415) 393-0707. Fax (415) 393-0710. Barbara Boxer (D), 1700 Montgomery St., Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111; (415) 403-0100. Fax (202) 224- 0454. Candy is dandy... Commentary Although Ogden Nash finished off the above couplet with “but liquor is quicker,” I do not advocate the imbibing of spirits, hol- idays notwithstanding. Although we come from a long line of teetotalers, our offspring, however, are not averse to the bubbly. Even the missus was observed draining a glass when the Giants won the World Series…but I digress. Candy is dandy and has always been a suitable reward for kids…and their dentists, for that matter. I am reminded of this because of a recent letter from L. Tow, who wrote, in part, “I would like to share an incident we had with your father, Dave Minch, years ago. After our move here from L.A., in 1957, I would go to Minch’s Meat Market on Minch Road (she was referring to Minch’s Whole- sale Meats at the north end of Fortier Road…the naming of a dirt road in front of the plant came much later) to buy ground beef. It was their custom to give a candy bar to children, so I always had company. Candy bars at our house were few and far between and a real treat. I noted that Mr. Minch had a column in the local paper where he observed that children rarely thanked him for a candy bar unless prompted by their parents. He said he would give a dollar to every child that remembered to say ‘thank you’ without prompting. I read this to my children and they wanted to go right away, but alas, we had to wait until payday. The next trip, they accepted the candy bars, but with shy smiles but no words. I said nothing until we got in the car and reminded them of the column in the newspaper. They were shocked and wanted to run back and say ‘thank you,’ but I told them it was too late. I think it was a good lesson learned the hard way.” * * * The special holiday insert last Saturday contained a plethora of erudite renderings. In other words, a lot of good writers came out of the closet at the request of the Daily News to submit their favorite Christmas sto- ries, drawings and poems. I thought my father’s remembrance of a 1915 Christmas would win hands down until I saw the qual- ity of other writers’ work. Good show all who participated. * * * A request for extra police patrol on Cimarron Drive was lodged after per- sons unknown rearranged a lighted deer Christmas dec- oration in an “inappropriate position.” That reminds me of the old joke about the woman who instructed a taxidermist to prepare her recently departed monkeys for a permanent exhibit, and when he asked her if she wanted them mounted, she replied, “No, just hold- ing hands.” * * * * * * In the spirit of accuracy in media, D.J. Minch reports that the retirement gift given his late father, A. Stanley Minch, was not a deer rifle but a 12 gauge Browning A5 shotgun made in Bel- gium. Picky, picky.... * * * Robert Minch I Say When we hear an orchestrated piece, we may overlook the orchestrator. That familiar work, “Pictures at An Exhibition” by Mod- este Mussorgsky, is a good example. We sel- dom hear the music played for solo piano from the original score. It is great, of course, but the fully orchestrated version is really outstanding and superior to the solo piano rendering. * * * I shall refrain from criticizing City Hall for the time being. I just got a ticket for overtime parking in front of our office at Main and Walnut. I am not saying I am being targeted, but it is strange that this is the first such citation I have ever received in our fair city. However, such infractions can be blessings in disguise. The late Loren For- ward was an adversary of a certain City Manager years ago at a time when Loren was drinking a great deal. The manager allegedly instructed the police department to keep an eye on him and arrest him if he ever entered a vehicle while inebriated. Loren said later that the edict eventually saved his life, for he had to sober up and remained that way the rest of his life. Last week’s quiz was answered promptly and correctly by the team of P and L Bullock who knew that Lt. Colonel (later Colonel) Teddy Roosevelt led the charge up San Juan Hill, had poor eyesight and carried, for the rest of his life, a bullet lodged in his chest after a failed assassi- nation attempt. This week’s quiz: The Chicago Bears football team has a running back named Matt Forte. How does he pro- nounce his name, when was the last time the Bears won a Super Bowl, and what did the team wear for the team photo to make them look cool? * * * The Cone & Kimball Plaza can be cold and uninviting this time of year. Too bad we didn’t provide for a fire pit or some heating device when we were planning the layout. It would have been great for those watching and participating in Xmas entertainment. * * * A tourist in a bar in Florida bar asked an Irishman sitting at the bar, “Why do SCUBA divers always fall backwards off their boats?” The Irishman replied, “If they fell for- wards they’d still be in the friggin’ boat, wouldn’t they?” Robert Minch is a lifelong resident of Red Bluff and former columnist for the Corning Daily Observer and Meat Industry magazine. He can be reached at rminchandmurray@hotmail.com.